But Gov. Bobby Jindal is fiercely opposed to the lawsuit. After ensuring its strongest proponents were removed from the levee board, Jindal turned his eye to killing the suit legislatively. Adley agrees with the governor that the board illegally entered into a contingency fee contract with legal firm Swanson Jones, without seeking the proper approval or making the terms of the terms of the contract public.

Adley's SB547 would put a multitude of restrictions on governmental contracts with private parties that are worth more than $50,000. Any contracts, including that made between the levee board and its lawyers, that don't live up to these benchmarks would be retroactively voided.

Under the bill, contracts of this ilk would have to specify an ending date or event and a maximum dollar amount payable; parties that enter into the contracts would have to have the means to pay any and all liabilities. Additionally, agreements entered into unilaterally "on behalf of the state" without specifying a dollar amount would be voided.

The bill would not apply to the Louisiana Public Service Commission or the New Orleans City Council, which both regulate utilities, and often enter into contracts with legal and consulting firms.

While the bill would impact any number of contracts, Adley is not shy about stating the legislation seeks specifically "to expose that that (levee board) contract was entered into illegally." But state Sen. Ed Murray, D-New Orleans, said the bill language should specifically mention the lawsuit if the true intent of the legislation is to kill the effort.

"It's very clear who the target is. It's directed to one particular party," Murray said Wednesday. "Why not just name the entity to which this applies?"

During Adley's testimony on the bill, Murray also questioned its constitutionality. In that vein, Murray attempted to attach an amendment to require the attorney general to weigh in on the constitutionality of the bill.

The amendment was shot down, as was an attempt by state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, to send the bill back to committee for further discussion. State Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, tried to tack on a change to make the bill also apply to Jindal's office.

"I do want the executive department to have the same sunshine going in their office that's going in everyone else's office," Claitor said during testimony on his amendment. The amendment was killed, but Claitor voted for the bill anyway even though he said he also questions its constitutionality.

"It's part of the process," said Claitor, who said the House will now have to determine whether the bill will ultimately have a chance to be successful.

Adley ultimately swayed the chamber, telling them "if you cast this vote (against this bill) it is a vote to say...'I don't think public bodies should have to tell you how much they're paying somebody.'"